US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA273

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP/MNA, NP/PPC, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
UNVIE FOR IAEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KNNP, TRGY, PREL, AORC, PARM, OPDC, HO, IAEA 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN RESPONSE TO G-8 FM'S LETTER ON IAEA 
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL: GOH DISCUSSING POSSIBLE AGREEMENT 
 
REF: A. 04 TEGUCIGALPA 2872 
 
     B. OLSEN/GOODMAN E-MAIL 12/17/04 
     C. 04 STATE 268619 
 
1. As reported ref A, Embassy delivered the G-8 Foreign 
Ministers' letter on the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguard 
Agreements and the Additional Protocol in English (ref C) 
and Spanish (ref B), under cover letter from the Ambassador, 
to Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonidas Rosa Bautista in 
December 2004.  The GOH sent an official reply, dated 
January 13 (but received by the Embassy January 24) stating 
that internal GOH consultations were ongoing over possible 
Honduran signature of an Additional Protocol with the IAEA. 
Post, in conjunction with the Japanese Embassy that has also 
expressed strong interest in this issue, is following up 
with MFA officials.  PolOff spoke to MFA Director General of 
Treaties Ivonne Bonilla February 7 to ask for clarification 
about the status of the GOH consultations.  Bonilla said 
that the MFA was awaiting responses from various GOH 
ministries tasked to review the draft IAEA Additional 
Protocol.  She pledged to inform the G-8 (via the Embassy) 
of any significant developments in the GOH process. 
 
2. The following is an informal translation of the text of 
GOH reply.  Begin text: 
 
No. 11-DT  Tegucigalpa, January 13, 2005 
 
Dear Mr. Ambassador: 
 
I have the pleasure to address you on the occasion of 
acknowledging your letter of December 22, 2004, in which you 
enclose the letter of Secretary of State Collin L. Powell 
and the Ministers of Foreign Relations of the G-8, asking 
the Government of Honduras to adhere to the Additional 
Universal Protocol of Safeguard Measures of Nuclear 
Materials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 
 
In this respect, I have the honor to inform you that 
Honduras is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA) and the following international instruments as part 
of organizational bylaws speak to the mentioned 
participation: 
 
1. The Agreement between Honduras and the International 
Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in 
Relation with the Treaty for the Proscription of Nuclear 
Arms in Latin America and the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of 
Nuclear Arms, ratified on May 16, 1973 (NPT). 
2. Protocol Related to the Agreement between the Republic of 
Honduras and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the 
Application of Safeguards in Relation to the Treaty for the 
Proscription of Nuclear Arms in Latin America and the Non- 
Proliferation Treaty on Nuclear Arms. 
3. The Treaty for the Total Prohibition of Nuclear Testing 
(CTBT) signed on September 25, 1992. 
 
In addition, Honduras is a member of OPANAL [Agency for the 
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the 
Caribbean] and maintains Safeguard Agreements with NPT, 
which entered into force on October 31, 1992. 
 
With reference to the above, I am pleased to inform you that 
the necessary consultations will take place with the 
institutions involved with the matter at hand, so that the 
procedures necessary for Honduras' adhesion to the protocol 
ut supra [as above] may take place. 
 
I avail myself of the opportunity to express to you the 
assurances of my highest and distinguished consideration. 
 
Leonidas Rosa Bautista 
Minister of Foreign Relations 
 
Excellency 
Larry L Palmer 
Ambassador of the United States of America 
Tegucigalpa 
 
End text. 
 
Palmer